Wisteria brachybotrys f. albiflora 'Shiro-kapitan'
Silky wisteria
Also known as Wisteria venusta, Wisteria brachybotrys 'Shiro-kapitan', Wisteria sinensis 'Prematura Alba', Wisteria venusta 'Alba', Wisteria 'Shiro-kapitan'
- Height × spread
- 9m × 6m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Flowers
- Spring, Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A number of years can elapse before a young plant starts to flower, but it is worth the wait. The slightly fragrant floral racemes are elegant and white, the individual flowers within them being the largest of the type and with some yellow staining at the base of the individual blooms. There can be 35 individual flowers in one raceme. Velvety pods follow. It is rewarding to examine the beauty of the individual flowers. The leaves are held in pairs on long stems, in a formation termed 'pinnate'. They are coloured amber when they open, maturing to green, and are downy to the touch. This is vigorous and can reach around 9 metres in height. It can also be grown as a picturesque contorted, ground-based shrub, space is needed for this.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Stem colour
- Brown
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, soft
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 9m
- Spread
- 6m
- Height in 10 years
- 3m
- Spread in 10 years
- 3m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Flowers in
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Seaside garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Deer resistant, Sensory garden (tactile)
- Walls
- South, West facing
- Hazards
- Yes, potentially harmful; Humans: Harmful if eaten
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed young plants with slow release fertiliser
Spread a slow release fertiliser around the base of the plant to the edge of the foliage spread, so that it can feed the roots. It is helpful for this to be applied for several years.
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost until the plant becomes well established.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Summer
Summer - mid · Planting
Prune in summer
As well as winter pruning, on young plants tie in growth to a framework and prune sideshoots back to 15cm. When it has filled the allotted space, tie in growth and cut growth back to 15cm of the major branches on your framework, leaving five to six buds.
Winter
Winter - mid · Planting
Prune in winter
Train along horizontal wires on each side of the plant, tie shoots onto wires until the area is filled after a few years. Annually reduce shoots a little to buds. Cut out weak growth. Contain side shoots to 15cm. When mature prune to contain the plant.
Wisteria is a major investment. They don't usually flower for quite a few years, so it is worth obtaining leaflets or literature that give very detailed pruning instructions and which give guidance on pruning to different shapes.
Found in
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